Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, Botanical garden in Papaikou, Hawaii, United States.
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden covers 17 acres at the entrance of the Onomea Valley on the coast of Hawaii Island, about 25 km north of Hilo. A boardwalk descends into a rainforest canopy of palms and tree ferns, then winding paved paths pass more than 2,500 tropical plant species, including anthuriums, gingers, bromeliads, heliconias and over 270 orchids. The garden sits on the ocean shore, and a rocky stream cascades in tiers over moss-covered boulders among dense green foliage.
The property was acquired by a private individual in 1977 who developed it into a public garden and opened it to visitors in 1984. Afterward, the land was transferred to a nonprofit organization to ensure its long-term care.
The garden occupies the former Onomea sugar plantation site and was created by Dan J. Lutkenhouse, who bought the land in 1977 and opened it to the public in 1984. Since 1995 it has been run by a nonprofit trust that promotes education and protects native and endemic plants.
The garden is accessible through marked hiking trails where visitors can move at their own pace through the grounds. Wearing comfortable, sturdy shoes is recommended since some paths are steep and moisture from the waterfalls can make surfaces slippery.
The garden occupies the site of a former sugar cane plantation in the Onomea Valley, and its palm collection alone numbers almost 200 species. Dan J. Lutkenhouse bought the land in 1977 and opened the garden to the public in 1984.
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